Trucker teaches kids about capitals, potatoes, alligators, writing

STAYING IN TOUCH BY USING INK AND PAPER- Joan Hartigan's third-grade class, above, visits with their "Trucker Buddy," Craig Dickason, in front of his truck during a visit earlier this month. Below: Dickason delivers pencils and atlases to his pen pals at their Park Oaks Elementary School classroom. For years, Park Oaks teacher Joan Hartigan had her thirdgraders write letters to students at her childhood school in Chicago. But when Hartigan learned last year that her pen-pal teacher was retiring, she started searching for a new class for her students to correspond with.

"I was looking to find another pen pal for my students," Hartigan said. "I found the Trucker Buddy program, and I thought it could be a really unique opportunity."

Since the start of this school year Hartigan's third-graders have been participating in Trucker Buddy International, a program that matches students in second through eighth grades with professional truck drivers.

The students each write their "Trucker Buddy" a letter every month. The class's "Trucker Buddy," Mesquite, Ariz.-based Craig Dickason, sends postcards from different stops around the country.

Dickason met his young pen pals earlier this month, bringing valentines, atlases and pencils along as gifts.

"He sends snippets about the states, the capitals, what they produce," Hartigan said. "When he came out he let them see the truck, honk the horn and see where he sleeps. He brought them all atlases and showed them pictures of all the places he'd been."

Hartigan said her students got a lot out of the program but the letter writing practice was perhaps the most important aspect.

"It's one of the standards, for the kids, to be able to write a friendly letter," Hartigan said. "Now I'd say 99 percent of the kids would be able to pass that. Aside from the academics, I think it was great that they got to get to know someone and really develop a relationship."

Albert Martinez, 9, said he learned capitals, about animals and that Idaho has giant potatoes. Mia Lee and Stephen Gomez, 8 and 9 respectively, both said they think their writing improved, although Valeria Moreno isn't so sure.

"I learned that alligators have been around for millions of years and maybe they were friends with turtles," the 9yearold said. "I loved getting in his truck. I was curious and pulled on a string. Ho-o-onk! I laughed so hard.

"But I don't know if my writing or spelling got better. I was having too much fun."

For program information, visit www.truckerbuddy.org.